After a great start to the week with a 4-game sweep of the Yankees. The Blue Jays have won 8 of the 12 season series meetings thus far, including 2 of 3 in Toronto at the end of August, outscoring the Orioles 78-50. Robbie Ray got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer returned to the lineup as DH with Jarrod Dyson in CF, Lourdes in LF and Teo in RF. Jake Lamb was at the hot corner. Could the Blue jays make it 9 in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Orioles opemed the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Cedric Mullins led off with a solo blast to left
- Four batters later, Ryan McKenna whack an opposite-field shot to right-center also scoring Austin Hays
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th as Bo Bichette singled scoring Marcus Semien
- Robbie Ray pitching line: 4.1IP 8H 3R (all earned) 2BB 8K 98 pitches (62 for strikes)
- Chris Ellis pitching line: 5IP 5H 1R (earned) 4BB 4K 91 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th on a fielder's choice hit by Randal Grichuk and throwing error by Jahmal Jones that scored Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
- 2 batters later, Semien doubled scoring Grichuk
- The Orioles added 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th as Anthony Santander hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Mullins and Trey Mancini
- Cole Sulser pitched a scoreless 9th for his 7th save of the season.
- Final score: Orioles 6 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Robbie Ray battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8, ending his streak of games with at least 10 strikeouts at 4. It was clear from the get-go that Ray didn't have it as he gave up three runs on 3 hits to the first five batters of the game, including a blast to the leadoff man. Ray got a bit of a break in the 1st inning when Jahmal Jones was thrown out trying to take third base after stealing second base (Alejandro Kirk's throw went into center field.Ray got yelled at by Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde, who felt that the lefty was accusing his team of sign stealing. Ray responded by striking out the batter he was facing.
- The bullpen overall was solid, although Julian Merryweather gave up the game-winning three run blast in the 7th in his first game action since April 13th,
- The offense struggled to drive in runs tonight, going 2-10 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Yankees and Red Sox both lost and the Mariners and A's were leading their games in the 7th inning. The Blue Jays remain a half game back of the Yankees for the 2nd WC spot.
- Up next, a double header tomorrow. Hyun-Jin Ryu starts the first game and Ross Stripling will start the 2nd game.
